Katy Wheeler

STUDENTS did a double take when a mysterious green man appeared on campus.

It was soon revealed that the leotard-clad visitor was the face of a new environmental campaign that aims to change everyday behaviours in a bid to reduce carbon emissions, highlighting the impact of making small, yet significant, changes.

It’s hard to get people on board and change the way they do things, old habits die hard. So we are looking at ways to raise awareness and motivate staff and students.

Veronica Rudd, University of Sunderland

The campaign, which kicked off with a two-week programme of activity to raise awareness of the initiative at the University of Sunderland, will launch fully when the new academic year begins in September

It will signal the start of a year-long campaign.

Veronica Rudd, from business services at the University of Sunderland, said: “The Everyday Behaviours Campaign is a university-wide environmental initiative aimed at encouraging staff and students to make positive changes to their everyday behaviour.

“It’s hard to get people on board and change the way they do things, old habits die hard. So we are looking at ways to raise awareness and motivate staff and students.

“The university has a carbon reduction target to reduce carbon emissions by 48 per cent by 2020.

“This target is mainly associated with energy consumption, but we also have to reduce emissions associated with the waste we produce, how we travel to and from university and the products we buy and use.

“So we need everyone on board to think about what they could do differently today.”

As part of the campaign, students and staff are being asked to look out for the Green Man, and take a picture of him.

They are then being asked to post the picture on Facebook or Twitter using the #TheGreenMan – the best picture will win a mystery prize.

Veronica added: “The campaign has got off to a cracking start. We’ve been really pleased with the way both staff and students have responded to The Green Man, and actively engaged with the campaign.

“This is just the beginning though. From September, we’ll be facilitating a host of fun events and activities surrounding the campaign.”

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